You are bidding on a wonderful and comprehensive archive of original documents, drawings and assorted notes/correspondence from the White-Merrill Co of Boston, Mass. This archive originates from the private collection of Alex Montgomery who was one of the very first major collectors of early 20th century experimental and prototype pistols and rifles. Included in the archive are: 1). Numerous drawings, patents and blueprints of the White-Merrill semi-auto pistol detailing its development up to the test trials of 1907 and later improvements in 1909. 2). An extremely rare hard bound volume of the WAR DEP''T ANNUAL REPORTS OF 1907, Volume 6. This 122 page book details the test trials of a variety of small arms from the 1903 rifle, a variety of ammunition and most importantly the records of the testing of various handguns including the cal. 45 Colt Model 1905, Luger cal. 45 pistol, Savage cal. 45 pistol, the Knoble cal. 45 pistol, the Bergman cal. 45 pistol, the White-Merrill cal. 45 pistol, the Colt New Service cal. 45 DA revolver, the Smith & Wesson cal. 45 DA revolver and the Webley-Fosbery cal. 45 semi-auto revolver. The back of the book, just before the index are 9 black & white photographs of all the handguns tested. The Knoble and Bergman pistols were disqualified without testing. 3). A reproduced copy of the referenced volume. 4). Four large envelopes of drawings of the White-Merrill semi-auto pistol dated 1906-1907. 5). An original double stacked magazine body & spring for the White Merrill cal. 45 pistol, still in the white and missing its base & follower. 6). An extremely rare magazine for an experimental White-Merrill pistol that utilized a single stack magazine. Magazine is cracked on the top rear edge and is missing its spring but otherwise appears to be complete. 7). Patent papers dated September 16, 1913 for a semi-auto rifle invented by J.C. White. 8). A large volume of drawings, notes and correspondence dated 1911-1913, all relating to the White semi-auto rifle. 9). A 1908 calendar with various notes regarding testing of this rifle. 10). Numerous other notes & papers relating to the White-Merrill Co. business. 11). Three original photographs with 1 depicting a completed White semi-automatic rifle built on a modified 1903 rifle and 2 others of the barreled action out of the wood. 12). Six additional patent papers, 3 involving Browning''s patents, (a). for a machine gun mechanism, (b) a mechanism for converting a lever action rifle into a semi-automatic, (c). and a device for removing particles from the chamber of a firearm involving air pressure, (d). a W.B. Franklin patent dated November 1887 for a magazine feeding device for a rifle, (e). a Rudolf Frommer patent dated October 1905 for a semi-automatic pistol, and (f). an Albert H. Serale patent for a recoil operated firearm dated November 1905. In addition to Mr. White''s experimentation with the development of firearms he also was interested in redesigning military cartridges, several drawings for which are included. As related to the voluminous material about Mr. White''s semi-automatic rifle, he experimented with various cartridges but primarily worked with the caliber .30 1906 military cartridge and the Winchester 405 cartridge. He apparently used both rimmed & rimless cases when testing the 405. SIZE: PROVENANCE: The Frank H. Wheaton, III Collection. CONDITION: Generally, Very Good. Many of the handwritten notes are on low grade lined tablet paper and 5 X 7 note papers which have turned dark and have become very brittle & fragile. Many of the drawings are on vellum & linen and other high grade paper. The blueprints are all on regular engineering type blueprint paper and have become fragile. The 1907 War Dept. test trials report book shows light soil with some yellowing & foxing to the pages and a loose spine. The 2 magazine bodies are in the white and show light discoloration. 51516-25 jwd (3,000-5,000)